It’s shaping up to be another jam-packed week on both tennis tours on the heels of crowning five more singles winners on Sunday including both veterans and newcomers.
On the ATP Tour, two players were crowned champions on home soil as France’s Ugo Humbert collected his fifth career title in Marseille and American Tommy Paul captured his first trophy since 2021 at the Dallas Open in Texas. Meanwhile, Luciano Darderi of Italy announced his arrival by winning for the first time at the 250 event on clay in Cordoba, Argentina.
On the WTA Tour, world no. 4 Elena Rybakina secured her second victory of the season and seventh title of her career in Abu Dhabi. Former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova won her first title in four years in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Alcaraz Looks to Defend Buenos Aires Crown, Swiatek Hopes to Repeat in Doha
This week’s draws in Doha, Rotterdam, Delray Beach, and Buenos Aires are star-studded. The first WTA 1000 tournament of the year in Doha is headed by defending champion Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Rybakina. Canada’s Leylah Annie Fernandez upset no. 12 seed Liudmila Samsonova book her place in round two. For her part, Naomi Osaka exacted revenge on Caroline Garcia in a repeat of the opening round blockbuster Down Under last month which the Frenchwoman won. It’s Osaka’s biggest victory since returning to tennis last month.
READ: FERNANDEZ CAUSES UPSET OF SAMSONOVA IN DOHA DEBUT
In Rotterdam, Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner hits the court for the first time since claiming his maiden Grand Slam title as the top seed at the ATP 500 event. Canadians Milos Raonic, Denis Shapovalov and Félix Auger-Aliassime, who won the tournament in 2022, are also in the draw.
In Buenos Aires, last year’s finalists Carlos Alcaraz and Cameron Norrie are back as the top two seeds in 2024. In Delray Beach, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe headline the field while Paul goes for a second title in a row.
In Case You Missed It
*Bianca Andreescu, who hasn’t played since the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Montreal last summer, is getting closer to a return.
*If you haven’t seen the first installment of The Tour: A Reality Show, you’re really missing out.
*Roger Federer recently hit the slopes with legendary Olympic champion skier Lindsey Vonn.
*The entry lists for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells have been announced and once again, all the world’s best players will be in California in early March.
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